When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade! Go get yourself a peach instead. Over the last two months, my life has taken so many turns—so quickly and one right behind the other—that, at times, I felt like I was simply holding on for dear life.

My part-time job reduced my hours because of a change in my client’s needs. Although the reduction was less than I wanted, God showed me that it was not less than what I needed. Then, my vehicle broke down twice in the same month, creating an unexpected expense I certainly had not planned for. After paying much more than anticipated for the first repair, I was faced with a second repair that would have cost twice as much. At that point, I decided I wasn’t going to keep pouring money into an aging vehicle. So, rather than turning those lemons into lemonade, I decided to go looking for a peach!

And that’s where the real blessing began. As I searched for another vehicle, I kept looking at what I thought I could afford based on my bank account. But God reminded me, “Don’t worry about your bank account. Let Me do the math.”

How often do we look at what’s in our hands instead of looking at what God can do with what’s in our hands? This time, I decided to silence that little voice in my head telling me I didn’t deserve anything better than what I was trying to settle for. I decided that my age, my circumstances, and my bank account were not going to determine what I allowed myself to believe was possible. My only real requirement was simple: I wanted a dependable vehicle I could trust on the highway without worrying about how far AAA would tow me if I broke down!

There were places I wanted to go, but I had been hesitant to travel because of the age and condition of my vehicle. So this time, I listened to God. I stopped looking for what I thought I should settle for and started looking for exactly what I wanted and needed. And guess what? I traded my 2014 vehicle for a 2023! The entire process was so smooth and worked so favorably within my current financial budget that I knew without a doubt that God had done the math.

Sometimes, the blessing isn’t in making the best lemonade out of what life hands you. Sometimes, God is saying, “Why are you settling for lemonade when I have a peach waiting for you?”

So, as I close, here’s what I want you to remember: Never allow other people—or your own perceived sense of worthiness—to dictate what God is capable of doing in your life. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. You don’t have to settle. And you don’t have to believe that what you have right now is all that you can ever have.

Sometimes, when life hands you lemons, don’t make lemonade. Go grab a peach instead! Because when God is doing the math, the numbers don’t always have to make sense to you.

As I enter this new week I am on Cloud 10! These past couple of weeks have taken me for a whirlwind and I just keep picking myself back up. I thank God for good friends, family, and my pastor who keep bringing the messages I need each week. This most recent Sunday he talked about the three men that were thrown in the fire and how Jesus got in there with them and they all came out not smelling like smoke. Last week we were blessed with the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den, and how God will let you go in because he knows that he’s gonna bring you out.

So as I prepare for the week ahead with all of what I am anticipating, I know that there may be moments when the furnace will be turned up, or the door may be locked from the outside due to circumstances that I don’t create. But I serve a God who always makes sure that it will work for my good in the end.

As you take on new and old tasks this week, keep your eyes on the prize no matter the circumstances. Your test will end up being your testimony! God bless. Keep the faith.

There will always be doors opening and closing in your life. It is your job to decide how much emphasis you will place on the closed door versus the new one that is opening. If you continue to look back and wish that things were different or second guess yourself on why things happened the way they did, please know that the new door cannot swing open as wide. When you look for someone or something to place the blame, the universe cannot give you what you really need. It is not good to take the negative energy of what didn’t work out in the new door that is about to open. This the hardest principle to follow in life, but it is a necessary one. As women we want closure in all areas of life, not just relationships. We want to know what went wrong so we don’t make the same mistake twice. You did not make a mistake. Life is opening you to a new possibility by way of someone else not accepting who you are. Even if you had done things differently, you would still be preparing to step through another door. So do not beat yourself up! Of course it’s hard to remain calm when it always seem that you are the problem. Sometimes you ask God, why can’t another door open because of something someone else did? Why does it always seem to be about what you did or did not do? You get comfortable in places and show your real self and the relationship changes. Do not get mad with other people. Be thankful that God sees the future and your move may be His way of avoiding a disaster, because there is something more in line with your character. It will be hard to see this while you are trying to leave a crack in the door, hoping that something can be done to change the circumstances so you can go back. God is moving you forward, so stop looking back. Focus all your attention and positive energy on the new door that is staring you in the face.

Photo by Dima Pechurin on Unsplash

It’s a Party Over Here!

When you finally realize that you have more years behind you than you do in front of you, life starts to take on new meaning.  I don’t know why it took turning 70 years old before I decided to make drastic changes that would allow me to enjoy life the way I always wished I could.  At the time of this writing, I am laying across the bed in an Airbnb that I booked for two days, although I just finished throwing myself a 40-year Breast Cancer Anniversary Party, all expenses paid by me, in addition to doing a Girl’s Trip two weeks ago out of town (we drove), at another Airbnb for the weekend.  I keep telling everyone that I am living my best life, which I am, although I have no idea what my life will look like three to six months from now.  Nothing in my life is written in stone!  That’s the way that I planned it back in January when I gave up my apartment to move in with strangers (a family).  I signed a six month lease, which ran out in July and is now month to month, so basically I could move with a 30-day notice.  So far I have committed myself to stay through Christmas, because I’m about to purchase a small Christmas tree for my bedroom.  But after then, who knows what I will do?

Part of my reason for moving was to travel, eat out more, and stop driving Uber, in addition to several financial goals.  So far I am booked for Lexington, VA in November and Fort Lauderdale, FL in December.  Haven’t decided where to go or what to do in January, because that’s my birthday month.  But you know I’m working on it!  Sometimes the not knowing is crazy, then other times it is quite enjoyable and mysterious.  It definitely keeps me on my toes and alert to what’s going on in the world and my immediate circles.  I just love watching God work things out and continue to surprise me!  Oh well, I’ll see you on the other side.